In the fall of 1942, the German Waffenamt issued an order to develop a heavy assault gun to combat the growing menace posed by Russian armored forces all along the "ostfrontier" or eastern front. What resulted was the Sd. Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther tank destroyer, arguably the best long-range tank destroyer of the war. The Jagdpanther mounted a powerful 8.8cm Pak L/71 cannon within a fixed turret, which was situated atop a standard Panther V chassis. Although production of the tank was begun at MIAG in January 1944, it took another ten months before the larger NMH plant could expand the production run in time for the "Wacht am Rhein" counteroffensive. By war's end only 392 vehicles had entered service with the Wehrmacht, but these had a telling effect on the prosecution of the war.

This particular Jagdpanther is painted in the colors of the Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 654 (Heavy Tank Battalion) when it participated in the fighting for Normandy in July 1944. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 11-inches
Width: 4-inches
Height: 2-1/2-inches

Historical Account: "Waking the Demons" - The Jagdpanther was considered by many to be the most lethal anti-tank weapon of the war, combining the sleek, angular lines of the Panther tank with the awesome power of the 88mm gun. The Jagdpanther first saw action in July 1944, when the British attempted to knife their way through the Caumont Gap during Operation: Bluecoat. During the ensuing battle, Jagdpanthers of Schwere Panzerabeteilung 654 engaged Churchill tanks of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade ("The Scots Guards"). The Jagdpanthers made quick work of the Churchills, destroying them one after another in rapid succession. Breaking cover from the Bois du Homme, two Jagdpanthers covered by a third proceeded to pick off more of the British tanks, finally retreating when they themselves came under heavy fire. Although the two Jagdpanthers had to be abandoned due to track damage, they managed to brew up 14 of the Scots Guards' tanks in an engagement which lasted only 2 minutes.